Manchester United stormed back to the top of the Premier League yesterday after Paul Scholes marked his 500th game for the club with the opening goal in a comfortable 2-0 win over Liverpool.
Scholes prodded the ball home six minutes before half-time and England defender Rio Ferdinand added only the fourth goal of his four-year United career in the 66th minute, expertly rifling into the top corner.
Victory put United top on 22 points, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference. Bolton Wanderers are third on 20 after their dramatic 1-0 win at Blackburn while Arsenal moved up to fourth on 17 with a game in hand after their classy 4-0 away demolition of Reading.
There was a thrilling finale at Blackburn, who lost despite being awarded two penalties in the final minutes.
Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved both, taken by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts, while his captain Kevin Nolan was red-carded for dissent.
Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni got a late winner as Middlesbrough beat Newcastle 1-0, while Tottenham edged West Ham by the same score in a London derby thanks to Egyptian Mido.
The showcase game was at Old Trafford, where United ran out convincing winners over a Liverpool side who are now 11 points off the pace, their title hopes pretty well in ruins.
Scholes, the ninth player to reach the 500-game mark with United, opened the scoring after being left completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. His first effort from Ryan Giggs's cross was parried by keeper Jose Reina but the 31-year-old midfielder made sure by bundling the ball home.
Ferdinand arrowed in the second after deftly bringing the ball down with his right foot and firing home with his left.
Though they have another 29 games to play, United's performance had manager Alex Ferguson purring - and declaring there was a growing belief they could wrest the title from Chelsea.
"We started the season with the hope, desire and intention to do well - and so far they've not let us down," Ferguson said.
"I'm looking at United to step forward and make sure they have a real go this year."
Arsenal gave Reading a master-class in passing, taking the lead after 58 seconds when Cesc Fabregas provided the cutback for Thierry Henry to rifle home.
Alexandr Hleb fired the second and then turned provider, un-selfishly passing for Robin van Persie to score. Henry wrapped up the win by converting a 70th-minute penalty after Fabregas was tripped by keeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Upcoming fixtures
Tuesday: League Cup third round - 8.45 p.m. Chesterfield vs West Ham; Leeds vs Southend; Leicester vs Aston Villa; Notts County vs Southampton; Port Vale vs Norwich; Sheffield United vs Birmingham; Watford vs Hull; West Brom vs Arsenal; Wycombe vs Doncaster. 9 p.m. Everton vs Luton.
Wednesday: League Cup third round - 8.45 p.m. Crewe vs Manchester United; MK Dons vs Tottenham; Newcastle vs Portsmouth. 9 p.m. Blackburn vs Chelsea; Charlton vs Bolton; Liverpool vs Reading.
Saturday: Premier League - 1.45 p.m. Sheffield United vs Chelsea. 4 p.m. Arsenal vs Everton; Bolton vs Man. United; Fulham vs Wigan; Liverpool vs Aston Villa; Portsmouth vs Reading; Watford vs Tottenham. 6.15 p.m. Newcastle vs Charlton.
Sunday: Premier League - 5 p.m. West Ham vs Blackburn.
Monday: Premier League - 9 p.m. Manchester City vs Middlesbrough.